You may have heard the expression “Where’s the beef?” It is a phrase that questions the substance of an idea, event, or product. The Watchtower of 1956, June 1 page 346 paragraph 11 entitled “Keep Pace by Conforming to Theocratic Requirements” said this:

Since the “faithful and discreet slave” has been entrusted with all the Master’s goods, then let us view with proper mental perception that whatever the ‘faithful slave’ does is for our good. The slave is thereby fulfilling its own obligation before Jehovah in getting His work done. Therefore the slave’s will is Jehovah’s will. Rebellion against the slave is rebellion against God. A proper mental attitude toward the slave’s direction is a part of keeping pace with the New World society.

After hearing a comment like this we do well to ask “Where’s the beef?” When did the “faithful and discreet slave” begin speaking for Jehovah? When was it appointed as his mouthpiece and channel of communication? The answer you will likely receive is in 1919.

The truth is that God in times past has indeed selected and used individuals to act in a special role. Take for instance Moses. YHWH commissioned Moses to be His mouthpiece, His channel of communication if you will, before Pharaoh and before the Israelites. Was Moses to appear before the Israelites and start giving orders without any proof that he was who he claimed to be, God’s channel?

Let us read Exodus 4:1 – (NWT) ” However, Moses in answering said: “But suppose they do not believe me and do not listen to my voice, because they are going to say, ‘Jehovah did not appear to you.’”

God proceeds to give him 3 signs or miracles that Moses would perform in front of the Israelites to show that he was indeed God’s spokesman. When Moses speaks with the Israelites he performs the miraculous signs. Exodus 4:30,31 – “Then Aaron spoke all the words that Jehovah had spoken to Moses, and he performed the signs under the eyes of the people. 31 At this the people believed. ”

These miraculous signs were the proof to show God had selected Moses.

When God chose the nations of Israel to be His special property at Mount Sinai there were also miraculous signs. Exodus 19:18,19 – “And Mount Si´nai smoked all over, due to the fact that Jehovah came down upon it in fire; and its smoke kept ascending like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain was trembling very much. 19 When the sound of the horn became continually louder and louder, Moses began to speak, and the [true] God began to answer him with a voice.” (See also Hebrews 12:18-21)

There was no doubt whatsoever in the people’s minds that YHWH was present and that they had entered into a covenant relationship with Him, becoming His special property.

From time to time YHWH would appoint prophets to speak to the people or to other nations. The people would know these prophets were true prophets if what they said miraculously came true. (Deuteronomy 18:21,22)

Jesus was God’s son and His special spokesman. The gospel accounts are full of miraculous proofs and signs that Jesus indeed was who he claimed to be.

How about when the Christian congregation was started? Were there miraculous proofs that they were now God’s approved people? Yes of course. There was the miraculous outpouring of holy spirit on Pentecost. Also notice Acts 2:43 – ” Indeed, fear began to fall upon every soul, and many portents and signs began to occur through the apostles.”

Acts 5:12 – “Moreover, through the hands of the apostles many signs and portents continued to occur among the people;”

It was completely clear that God was using the apostles in a special way. The miracles made it clear the God had selected the Christian congregation to be His people.

When the good news went out to Samaria notice what happened. Acts 8:5-7 “Philip, for one, went down to the city of Sa·mar´i·a and began to preach the Christ to them. 6 With one accord the crowds were paying attention to the things said by Philip while they listened and looked at the signs he was performing. 7 For there were many that had unclean spirits, and these would cry out with a loud voice and come out. Moreover, many that were paralyzed and lame were cured.”

Again there was no question that Philip had God’s spirit.

When Paul visited the congregations did he go without proof of his apostleship? 2 Corinthians 12:12 – ” Indeed, the signs of an apostle were produced among YOU by all endurance, and by signs and portents and powerful works.”

Because of his miraculous works there was no doubt that Paul truly was an apostle of Jesus. In fact Paul chastises the Corinthian congregation because they tolerated and accepted as apostles those who didn’t have the credentials. 2 Cor. 11:20 (MSG) – “You have such admirable tolerance for impostors who rob your freedom, rip you off, steal you blind, put you down – even slap your face!”

2 Corinthians 11:4 – “For, as it is, if someone comes and preaches a Jesus other than the one we preached, or YOU receive a spirit other than what YOU received, or good news other than what YOU accepted, YOU easily put up [with him].”

Jesus also in his letter to the congregation at Ephesus commends them for not believing everyone who claimed to be an apostle without proof. Revelation 2:2 – “‘I know your deeds, and your labor and endurance, and that you cannot bear bad men, and that you put those to the test who say they are apostles, but they are not, and you found them liars.”

In view of what we have considered if God had truly made a special appointment in 1919 of a few men, what should we have expected to see? Since that appointment would have been just as important as the selection that God made of the Israelites as His special people and of His selection of the Christian congregation in the first century, we should have expected to see the same miraculous signs, portents, and voices from heaven. There was none of that. JW’s are asked to put complete trust and faith in a group of men that make the most grandiose claim that men can make, namely to speak for God. All this without a shred of evidence. There have been no miracles, signs, or portents.

When someone wants to get to the bottom of a matter he must approach the question from all angles. If he is looking for a new car and wants to know which car is the best one for him, he doesn’t restrict himself to reading articles put out by Ford Motor Company. If he does he will for sure end up with a Ford. If a juror will only listen to the prosecution’s case and refuses to even consider the defense’s arguments in a trial, he is going to find the defendant guilty.

It is only by listening to opposing views on a matter can one make a decision based on knowledge. The Society only allows JWs to hear propaganda from the Society. Listening to those who don’t agree is not allowed and labeled as wicked. JWs can not make an informed decision in this situation. Of course they are going to end up with a Ford, find the defendant guilty, and think JWs are the only ones with God’s favor.

There is no beef to go with the Governing Body’s bun. Their authority is all smoke and mirrors, without substance. After awakening to this fact, we all ask ourselves: How in the world did I put my trust in men with absolutely no proof?

8 Comments on Where’s The Beef?

Yes I agree, Andrew, that their authority is only presumed; just as that of the Catholic Church is only presumed. If the WT publications follow a scriptural argument and stay with the scriptures, however, then the authority is from the Bible and not from men. Much of their material I feel is biblical, or at least not anti-biblical. But a lot of it is just their own theological soup. When something they say just doesn’t make sense I throw it overboard, can’t use it. But I still prefer reading the WT to, let’s say, the Christian Science Monitor. Can you blame me?

PS: Why do you often use the letters YHWH instead of Jehovah or Yaweh?

Excellent article and reasoning Andrew, concerning those who “place themselves in the seat of Moses”!

The interesting thing is that they didn’t even know that Jesus had supposedly chosen them as “the faithful and discreet slave” in 1919! The WTS still thought Charles Russell was “that slave” years later. Can you imagine Joshua continuing from Moses and not knowing that he’d been divinely appointed?! How about Elisha taking over from Elijah? I know heaven must be a long way away, but does it really take divine communication several years to reach earth?

“Do you believe it? DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE KING OF GLORY IS PRESENT, AND HAS BEEN SINCE 1874? DO YOU BELIEVE THAT DURING THAT TIME HE HAS CONDUCTED HIS HARVEST WORK? DO YOU BELIEVE THAT HE HAS HAD DURING THAT TIME A FAITHFUL AND WISE SERVANT [CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL] THROUGH WHOM HE DIRECTED HIS WORK AND THE FEEDING OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH? Do you believe that the Lord is now in his temple, judging the nations of earth? Do you believe that the King of glory has begun his reign?” [Watch. 1922 Nov 1, page 337]

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“It is here interesting to note that Jesus said, “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing! Verily, I say unto you that he shall make him ruler over all his goods.” THOUSANDS OF THE READERS OF PASTOR RUSSELL’S WRITINGS BELIEVE[D] THAT HE FILLED THE OFFICE OF “THAT FAITHFUL AND WISE SERVANT,” AND THAT HIS GREAT WORK WAS GIVING TO THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH MEAT IN DUE SEASON. HIS MODESTY AND HUMILITY PRECLUDED HIM FROM OPENLY CLAIMING THIS TITLE, BUT HE ADMITTED AS MUCH IN PRIVATE CONVERSATION.” [Watch. 1916 Dec 1, “Biography”]

“NO, THE TRUTHS I PRESENT, AS GOD’S MOUTHPIECE, WERE NOT REVEALED IN VISIONS OR DREAMS, NOR BY GOD’S AUDIBLE VOICE, nor all at once, but gradually, especially since 1870, and particularly since 1880. Neither is this clear unfolding of truth due to any human ingenuity or acuteness of perception, but to the simple fact that God’s due time has come; and if I did not speak, and no other agent could be found, the very stones would cry out.” [Watch. 1906 July 15, from page 229]

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I find it astounding that Russell on the one hand admitted he had no supernatural experiences, something that was always present when God used people as his “channel”, and yet he had the audacity to call himself “God’s mouthpiece”!

When our second child was born it was a Cesarean section. My wife wanted to breastfeed despite all the chemicals that they were pumping into her, so I asked the nurse if all that medicine could affect the child. She reacted very indignated and perturbed asking how I could ever imagine that their doctors would prescribe anything that could harm the infant! I responded saying that doctors are people, too! Nobody is infallible and we have the right to question any treatment imposed upon us. I don’t think she got the point.

The emperor does not have any clothes on. Even little children could see that, but the adults were afraid to say it.
The fear of man lays a snare, but wise ones only fear Jehovah.
Now that I have learned not to fear those guys, I can understand what I read in the Bible. I love all of you here!! and thanks for the opportunity to dialogue! Sincerely Jacqueline

The whole premise that the governing body provides food at the proper time is time-based on an old assumption that Jesus has already returned , and so then since they were , and are , the “faithful servant” , this is their basic “truth” that sets themselves and their followers free . They may claim that it is the Gospel Truths of Jesus that sets one free , but their claims , ” Therefore the slave’s will is Jehovah’s will (and) Rebellion against the slave is rebellion against God ” , is misapplied . When Yeshua returns we will THEN see who is faithful in all of his household . . .

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I can opt for giving you a list of dos and don’ts. The list comes from my personal and/or traditional preferences. It becomes my responsibility to tell you what to do or not to do and why. I then set up the conditions by which you begin to earn God’s acceptance through me. You do what I tell you to do . . . you don’t do what I tell you not to do, and you’re “in.” You fail to keep the list, you’re “out.” This legalistic style of strong-arm teaching is one of the most prevalent methods employed in evangelical circles.

The title of this article is “Rabbinical Legalism and Bible Study”, and I’m going to get to that first point momentarily. But let’s take the second part of the title first. I have finally been getting through Ray’s second book, In Search of Christian Freedom. It is superb, logical, and thought inducing over and over again. But to really understand the content and reasoning I have been looking up many of the references, and with a length of some 700+ pages, it’s taking me some time. That’s a lot to study! But whatever we choose to study though, you’ll agree that balance is needed. If we drench ourselves in an obscure passage of Hebrew Scripture and every footnote and cross-reference available for hours, days, and weeks, is that balanced if we don’t read or study anything else during those days or weeks?

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